Chicago El- Green Line (Oak Park, Forest Park: high crime, neighborhoods, school)

[rbippen]

I live in Oak Park and will soon be attending school in the loop area. The green line seems to be the best form of transportation. But I am female, blonde, and almost twenty. I would most likely be using the EL from 8am-6. I am pretty street smart but some stories have made me nervous ( praticulary my parents)

[chitown85]

A lot of Oak Parkers make that commute during rush hour and there hasn't been any major reported problems. You do go thru Austin, West Garfield Park, East Garfield Park, and by the United Center, all iffy areas. Though during the day there shouldn't be any problems. Just be vigilant of your surroundings. Also, do not wear earphones on the El because that makes you an easy target since a) you will not be alert and b) it shows potential muggers you have an Ipod or expensive phone with you.

[ChiHiRiser]

Originally Posted by rbippen

I live in Oak Park and will soon be attending school in the loop area. The green line seems to be the best form of transportation. But I am female, blonde, and almost twenty. I would most likely be using the EL from 8am-6. I am pretty street smart but some stories have made me nervous ( praticulary my parents)

Should be okay for those hours, especially the morning hours when the gangbangers are asleep. But get some pepper spray just in case.

[long101]

I'm not sure how to respond to the blond aspect, but during those hours you shouldnt have any issues as it is full with mostly working people. I wouldnt recommend staying out late and taking it

[ChiHiRiser]

Originally Posted by Humboldt1

You will be fine just be aware of your surroundings and be prepared for lots of loud ghetto black people. As I write this, I am taking the green line back to Oak Park from downtown.

The ghetto people are annoying but they will leave you alone if you ignore them. Such rude people though.

Also, do not under any circumstances get off between austin and california. You will be a target in those areas the second you step off the train.

I really wish white progressives or liberals from the suburbs would be encouraged as much to have a study INBROAD vs. a study abroad in some foreign country. As in have to live in an inner city ghetto for awhile.

Most are so absolutely clueless about racial reality I really think it would actually pay far higher dividends for their development and be less expensive than to jet-setting off to Europe to party their ass off and bang a bunch of people for six months.

Some predicted quotes: "Why is there bulletproof glass and no seating area for the Church's?", "Why is there bulletproof glass and I'm not allowed to enter the gas station's convenience mart after dark but the clerk has to retrieve my items for me?"

Don't despair though: as bad as the green line is today it was far worse in the past, or so I hear.

[meatpuff]

There are circumstances that Oak Parkers harboring no death wish get off at the Conservatory stop -- usually to go to the Conservatory.

I agree that the areas around the other stops are high crime, and even the CTA platforms there are riskier than usual to hang around.

But the most obvious reason not to get off at any of these other stops is that there is nothing to see there, and almost zero reason to ever visit. Anyway, still good advice from Humboldt.

[chirack]

Originally Posted by rbippen

I live in Oak Park and will soon be attending school in the loop area. The green line seems to be the best form of transportation. But I am female, blonde, and almost twenty. I would most likely be using the EL from 8am-6. I am pretty street smart but some stories have made me nervous ( praticulary my parents)

Just keep aware of your surroundings and most of the time you will be fine. esp. at those hours. Another alternative to the green line is metra and the blue line. Metra is more expensive, but faster and nicer and non stop. The Blue line is a tad faster, more crowed but might be too far from your location.

[Alacran]

Yeah the blue line still passes through some bad areas but its faster and more crowded.

[southsidehitman]

Originally Posted by chirack

Just keep aware of your surroundings and most of the time you will be fine. esp. at those hours. Another alternative to the green line is metra and the blue line. Metra is more expensive, but faster and nicer and non stop. The Blue line is a tad faster, more crowed but might be too far from your location.

actually i think its only like 2 bucks to take the metra downtown 2 oak park

[Lookout Kid]

I used to think that the Blue Line seemed safer on the West Side, but someone posted some stats on here last year showing that crime incidents were actually higher on the Forest Park leg of the Blue Line than the Harlem/Lake leg of the Green Line. Hmmff.

Intuitively I still feel safer on the Blue Line, though... It just seems more isolated from the crappy neighborhoods. It's a more comfortable feeling to be zooming down the Ike median with the cars.